Retort



J. o. BETTERTON Er AL 2,218,805

RETORT Filed De. 10, 1938 5 Sheets-Sheet l Oct.' 22, 1940.

06t- 22, 1940. J. o. BETTERTON ET AL. 2,218,806

RETORT Filed Deo. lO, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 0t 22, 1940- J. o. BETTERTONEr Ax. 2,218,806

RETORT.

Filed Dec. 1o. 1938 s sheets-sheet s l .i4 54 56 ir 56 52, l 4 5o g 125a' 12' jjj 501 ,5/'2 541 y t l l) Y I/ I L50 /M INVENTOR S .fsse (leerian Patented Oct. 22, 1940 UNITED STATES y PATENT i OFFICE RETORTApplication December 10, 1938, Serial No. 244,898 6 Claims. (Cl.263-42).

This invention relates to retorts constructed from non-metallicrefractory shapes.

In view of the high temperatures attending various metallurgical andmineralogical retort 5 operations and rthe inability of known metalliccompositions to satisfactorily serve the purpose, it has -been necessaryin various arts to employ built-up retorts of non-metallic, refractorymaterial of which silicon carbide is a Itypical and 10 outstandingexample.

inasmuch, however, as such retorts are susceptible to fracture bythermal shock and undergo considera-ble expansion and contraction withchanges in temperature, the maintenance of the 15 retort in a gas orvapor tight condition, `so necessary in zinc reduction, for example,constitutes a real problem.

Such retorts are generally of rectangular crosssection and among themeasures heretofore progo posed to cope with the problem may bemenltioned rthe provision of slip joints in the end walls for receiving`the side walls, and maintaining the end walls under a pressure tendingto horizontally compress the side walls of fthe retort. g5 The presentinvention provides non-metallic, refractory retorts embodying suchimprovements as the provision of joints between end and side walls Ithatare removed from :the direct sweeping action of the gases heating ftheretort thereby 50 enhancing the sealing of such joints, a novelconstruction permitting access to such joints for repair or otherpurpose without interrupting the continuityv of [the furnace operation,and end and complementary side wall tile embracing prin- 5 ci-ples ofdesign which by Ithe application of a suitable compressive force to theformer lend increased mechanical strength to the retort and insure itagainst gas or vapor leakage.

Although the novel features which are =be 40 lieved -to becharacteristic of this invention will be particularly pointed out infthe claims appended hereto, the invention itself, as to its objects andadvantages, and :the lmanner in which it may be carried out, may bebetter understood 45 by referring to the following description taken inconnection with the accompanying drawings form-ing a part thereof, inwhich Fig. 1 is a sectional plan view through a retort and combustionchamber in :accordance with the invention,

Fig. 2 is -a partial side elevation of lthe retort proper ltaken latline 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of a portion of .the retort andheating chamber showing certain bricks removed permitting access to theend wall joints of the retort,

Fig. -4 is a section -plan view somewhat similar to Fig. 1 but showing a`plurality .of retorts mounted in side-by-side relationship, 5

Fig. 5 is a plan view of one |type of special shaped refractory unit forbuilding Ithe retort end wall,

Fig. 6 is a view taken along line 6-6 of Fig. 5,

Fig. 7 isa plan view of specially shaped re- 10 fractory side wall unitfor articulation with Ithe end wall unit'shown in Figs. 5 and 6,

Fig. 8 is a view rtaken along the line 8 8 of Eig.7,

Fig. 9 is a plan 4view of a specially shaped re- 15 fractory sidev wall,similar to that shown in Figs. 'l and 8 but-of shorter length to permitstaggeringl of vertical'joints in .the retort side wall, "2

Fig. 10 is a view taken along the line lll-III 20 of Fig. 9, I* f Fig.11 is a plan `View of a further :ty-pe of special shaped refractoryuniftfor building the reitont end wall,

Fig. 12 is a.view taken along :the line |2|2 25 of Fig. 11,

Fig. 13 is a plan view of a further specially shaped refractory sidewall unit for articulation withv the end wall unit shown in 11 and 12,

Fig. 14 is a view ftaken along the `line M-Il 30 of Fig. 13,

Fig. 15 is a plan view of a specially "shaped refractory side wall unitsimilar to that shown in Figs. 13 and 14 but of shorter length .topermit staggering of vertical joints in Ithe retort side wall,

Fig. 16 is a view taken along the line IE-IS of Fig. 15.

Like reference characters denote like parts in the several figures ofthe drawings.

Referring more particularly rto .the drawings, and especially .to Figs.1 and 2 .thereof which show a typical embodiment of the present improvedconstruction, the vretort proper is shown with heat-transmitting,opposite side wall-s built up of -bricks I0 of standard shape and bricksI2 of a special shape, the latter being in articulation with specialshaped bricks I4 of .fthe opposite end walls of the retort. All ofbricks I0, l2 and I4 are of silicon carbide or other suitable non- 50metallic refractory. High grade insulating brick I6 and i8 are providedfor :the end walls to protect the retort from heat losses.

The furnace setting for the retort proper is shown as comprising walls20 within a heat-in- 55 s'ulating housing 22, the same being supportedby steel side buckstays 24 and corner buckstays 26 secured by tie rods28 and 36. At either end of the retort are a suiiicient number ofvertically spaced pressure exerting means comprising adjustablecompression springs 32 carried by screws 34 threadedly mounted inbracket 36 bearing against I-beam 38 of the supporting framework of thefurnace. Face plates 40 are provided to receive the pressure exerted bysprings 32 and transmit it to the end and side walls of the furnace forthe purposes hereinafter referred to. Suiilcient clearance is, ofcourse, provided for the screws 34 to permit free up and down movementof the pressure-exerting means with changes in the height of the retortin response to temperature changes thereof.

Between bricks I8 and the furnace wall 20 at the joint seals 42 formedby special-shaped bricks I2 and I4 is a space preferably filled with amixture 44 of weak re clay mud. grog to prevent excessive shrinkage andground coal or coke to facilitate its easy removal. Between the wall 20and the side Wall of the retort and again between housing 22 and bricksI8 are spaces of one-half inch or so, the former of which are completelylled with weak lre clay mud 46 and the latter partially so filled asindicated by 48, the outermost portions of the latter spaces being leftopen enabling cooling of buckstays 24 by convection currents of air. y

Thus it will be seen that the only physical contact between the walls ofthe retort and those of the furnace setting is that furnished by theseveral fillets of weak re clay 44, 46 and 48. l These fillets of weakfire clay mud are not to be con fused with the packing or sealingmaterial for joints suggested by some of the prior art to preventleakage of gases or vapor from the interior of the retort; in fact,neither their chemical composition nor their physical texture issuitable for such purpose, they being put in place as mud with theprimary objective of preventing leakage of combustion gases from thefurnace...

In Fig. 4 there is illustrated a plurality of retorts mountedside-by-side, the structure being essentially the same as that shown inFig. 1 except for the furnace structure between the retorts comprisingwalls 2I and housing 23 secured by buckstays 25 and tie rods 21. Also,the weak fire clay fillets 46 are shown as only occupying a portion ofthe space between furnace walls 20 and retort walls I0.

In Figs. 5-10 are shown the detailswof the special shapes I2, I2a and I4which make the joint seals 42 between the side and end walls of theretort, the shape I2a being shorter than shape I2, to permit staggeringof the joints in the various courses of the retort side walls, butother- Wise the same. The end wall brick I4 is provided with arelatively long, slightly tapered tongue portion 50 and presents, ascontact surfaces for shapes I2 or I2a the flat faces 52 and 54 and theintermediate curved face 56. The faces of the special shaped side wallmembers I2 and I2a which are complementary to the faces 52, 54 and 56are indicated in Figs. 7-10 as 62, 64 and 66 and 62a, 64a and 66a,respectively.

It will be understood that the details of design of the special shapesforming the joint seals 42 may be varied while still retaining most orall of the basic principles involved. One modification is shown in Figs.1l-16 inclusive, the primed reference characters denoting the structuresof like function illustrated in Figs. 5-10.

Now in operation the retort is constantly under the compressive forceexerted by the springs 32 and by reason of the specialshaped refractoryunits I2 and I4 this compressive force is resolved into two majorcomponents, one of which places the entire side wall under compressionwhereby spreading of the vertical joints is prevented and the other ofwhich urges the side wall inwardly toward the opposite side wall therebyovercoming the tendency of the side wall tomove outwardly by reason ofinterior retort pressures. Thus the improved construction impartsunusual mechanical strength to the retort. The novel manner in which thespecial refractory shapes I2 and I4 resolve the compressive forcesexerted by the springs 32 is, of course, of great importance in sealingthe joint 42 between them against the escape of gas or vapor from theretort. In addition to the fact that the faces 52, .54 and 56 of tile I4are all constantly urged into close engagement with the complementaryfaces 62, 64 and 66 of tile I2 or I2a, it will be noted that by reasonof the length of the tongue 50, the path that would have to be travelledby escaping vapor is much longer than any other vertical joint in theretort wall. Further, the seal 42 is far removed from the sweep of thefurnace combustion gases, another -important factor in maintaining thejoint sealed.

'I'he ease with which the joint seal 42 between tiles I2 and I4 can beinspected or serviced without disturbing the retort operation is wellvillustrated in Fig. 3, it only being necessary to remove a number ofthe bricks I8 thereby exposing the side faces of the special end shapesI4 and the weak fire clay fillets 44 and 48 which are readily removedexposing the joint seal 42. The overhanging bricks I8 which are notremoved are supported by any suitable means not shown. To assemble, thefillets are replaced with weak fire clay mud and the bricks I 8reinserted.

While certain specific details of construction have been pointed out inthe foregoing description, it will be understood that variousmodifications and changes may be made by those skilled in the art withinthe scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A metallurgical retort assembly comprising built-up side and endwalls, the end walls articulating with the side walls and definingjunction seals therewith, the said end walls comprising refractoryshapes having a. portion extending for a substantial distance into theretort between the side walls and shoulder portions extending over theends of said side walls, said portions together forming spaced seats forsaid side walls having divergently inclined surfaces abutting said sidewalls and complementary in shape to the ends thereof, and balancedadjustable compression means bearing against the Vsaid end Walls forcontinuously urging the end walls in vapor-tight relation to the sidewalls.

2. A metallurgical retort comprising built-up side and end walls, theend walls articulating with the side walls and defining junction sealstherewith, the said seals terminating in seams extending verticallyalong the exterior end walls of the retort, furnace settings enclosingthe retort `and defining a combustion chamber for the retort, fillets ofweak re clay mud or the like overlying the seams and forming the soleconnections Vbetween the retort and furnace settings, and readilyremovable brickwork overlying the said fillets and providing accessthereto Without interruption 0f the retort operation.

3. Apparatus for the reduction of zinc and operations of a similarnature comprising a vertically-disposed, built-up, refractory retorthaving heat-transmitting side walls` and supporting end wallsarticulating therewith, pressure exerting means yieldable in response toexpansion and contraction of the retort by thermal changes mountedexteriorly of the retort continuously urging the end walls into contactwith the side walls, the configuration of the joints between the sideand end walls including at least portions of the abutting surfacesdiverging outwardly in the direction of the opposite end of the retortso resolving said pressure as to simultaneously compress the side wallslongitudinally and overcome their tendency toward lateral displacementin response to internal retort pressure, a furnace setting for saidretort, and fillets of weak fire clay or the like constituting the onlyphysical contact between the retort and the furnace setting.

4. Metallurgical apparatus comprising, a retort including heattransmitting side walls and supporting end walls abutting said sidewalls and forming a joint seal therewith, furnace settings 25 associatedwith said retort and defining a combustion chamber therefor, and means-protecting said joint seal from the sweeping action of the combustiongases including llets extending over the joints between said side andend walls, and interposed between said joints and said combustionchamber. l

5. A metallurgical retort comprising side walls, end walls of generallyT-shaped cross section articulating with said side walls and forming ajunction seal therewith, and means yieldingly applying a compressiveforce on said end walls Atending to restrain opening of said junctionseal,

and to compress said side walls.

6. Metallurgical apparatus comprising a retort including side walls andend walls abutting said side walls and forming a joint therewith, theabutting portions of said side and end walls being complementarilyshaped and including a curved apex portion and angularly inclined Wallportions diverging outwardly from said apex toward the opposite end ofsaid retort, and means for applying a compressive force on said wallsfor maintaining said joint in sealed condition at least during operationof said apparatus.

JESSE O. BE'I'I'ER'ION. MELVILLE F. PMS.

